Personal-finance blog The Simple Dollar explains how you can save money by getting rid of your TV. For starters, no more monthly cable bill:

Our cable bill used to cost us roughly $60 a month. That adds up to $720 a year spent just to get more programming. Three years worth of that and we're looking at a very nice vacation. Five or six years of that, put into a savings account, potentially replaces a car.

Most of the other tips are more esoteric, like freedom from commercials (which cost you money by entreating you to buy things), less stress, and better health (because you'll stop being a couch potato). The author also lists 10 potential replacements for the TV, including books, exercise, evening classes and even starting a second business.

What do you think? Could you go cold-turkey on TV, especially if it meant pocketing extra cash? I'm honestly not sure I could do it, though it would probably make my wife pretty happy. Put your turn-off-the-TV comments in the comments. Thanks, Steve!—Rick Broida